Wex acquires Ascensus unit for $180M

In addition to the Ascensus health and benefits unit purchase, Wex said it will invest up to $100 million in a new venture arm.

By Lynne Marek • July 28, 2023

Mastercard waits on FedNow

While Mastercard participates in real-time payment systems in other countries, it’s holding back for now on the new U.S. instant payments network.

By Lynne Marek • July 27, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Digital wallets proliferate as features advance

As more companies aim to offer digital wallets the rise in competition is sharpening their features.  

By Payments Dive staff

Fiserv bets on Latin America

“Latin America has been a standout grower in recent quarters, and we believe it can remain so for the long term,” Fiserv CEO Frank Bisignano said Wednesday during an earnings call.

By James Pothen • July 27, 2023

PayPal deepens Microsoft partnership

In an expansion of a prior tie, software colossus Microsoft will increase the ways customers can use PayPal tools to purchase goods and services.

By Lynne Marek • July 26, 2023

Visa CEO bashes surcharges

“It’s not a great customer experience,” Visa CEO Ryan McInerney said of merchant surcharges, while speaking on an earnings webcast Tuesday.

By Lynne Marek • July 26, 2023

Apple Pay Later makes gains: survey

Apple Pay Later is gaining traction with consumers after a rollout earlier this year, according to a survey from JD Power.

By James Pothen • July 25, 2023

How FedNow may affect businesses

The launch of the instant payments system FedNow last week has the potential to change how businesses manage cash flow and corporate processes. Here are six ways that could play out.

By Suman Bhattacharyya • July 25, 2023

Payments venture funding skids

Venture capital interest in payments startups plunged in the second quarter, according to a CB Insights report.

By Lynne Marek • July 24, 2023

Will payments M&A pick up after slow start?

Despite a flurry of payments acquisitions recently, deal activity was slow in the first half of the year and some factors are still suppressing M&A.

By Caitlin Mullen • July 24, 2023

Amex corporate client growth ebbs

U.S. commercial card services volume grew 2% in the second quarter, relative to the year-ago period, American Express said in a Friday earnings report.

By Caitlin Mullen • July 21, 2023

FedNow’s launch ‘is just the start’

Direct access to the Fed’s payments system for nonbanks — specifically payments companies — will push the U.S. more fully into payments modernization, writes an executive from cross-border payments company Wise.

By Brigit Carroll • July 21, 2023

Apple pursues global payments, pushing into Morocco

The tech giant also launched the app in South Korea in March, and in four Latin American countries in May.

By James Pothen • July 20, 2023

Whole Foods to deploy Amazon One chainwide

The chain plans to offer the palm recognition and payment system at all of its more than 500 stores by the end of 2023, Amazon announced Thursday.

By Sam Silverstein • July 20, 2023

Clair CEO welcomes on-demand pay regulation

Clair CEO Nico Simko weighed in on whether EWA is a payday loan and how the company offers fee-free wage access.

By James Pothen • July 20, 2023

Discover facing FDIC probe

The company also disclosed during its 2Q earnings report that a pricing issue affected merchants and merchant acquirers, some of whom will get refunds.

By Caitlin Mullen • July 20, 2023

FedNow goes live for banks, credit unions

The Fed’s long-awaited instant payments system arrived right on time, giving consumers and businesses a new route for speedier transactions.

By Lynne Marek • July 20, 2023

CCCA opponents brace for defense bill move

Opponents of the Credit Card Competition Act proposal are gearing up to fight the bill as an attachment to the National Defense Authorization Act.

By Lynne Marek • July 19, 2023

Flywire, Tencent partner on cross-border education payments

The international payments software firm aims to give Chinese students abroad a tool for paying tuition using their home country’s most popular digital wallet.

By James Pothen • July 19, 2023

CFPB, European regulator open a dialogue on digital rules

Buy now, pay later platforms, artificial intelligence and other developments “if left unchecked, could increase consumers’ exposure to fraud and manipulation,” the regulators said Monday.

By Rajashree Chakravarty • July 18, 2023

Synchrony braces for late fee rule

The CEO of the private label card issuer expects a final rule on the CFPB’s proposed credit card late fee cap later this year, and litigation could follow, he said.

By Caitlin Mullen • July 18, 2023

Credit card bill opposition builds

Ten banking and payments trade associations sent a letter to Congress on Friday objecting to the Credit Card Competition Act.

By James Pothen • July 18, 2023

Fintech funding drops in 2Q

While there was a drought of venture capital for payments startups and other fintechs in the first half of the year, industry reports spot potential for new flows in the second half.

By Lynne Marek • July 18, 2023

Will other states mimic New Jersey’s credit card surcharge?

The state’s legislature passed a bill recently to cap credit card surcharges. One experienced payments executive believes that’s the wave of the future.

By Lynne Marek • July 17, 2023

Dollar General rolls out new cash rewards program

The new program allows customers to earn cash back in their digital wallets from the chain store on eligible purchases.

By Catherine Douglas Moran • July 14, 2023

Apple debuts recurring payments

The tech giant, now valued at $3 trillion, is continuing to expand its financial offerings after debuting a buy now, pay later feature and a savings account earlier this year.

By James Pothen • July 14, 2023